Shipping container and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pressure resistant shipping container, comprising:
- a flat flexible outer bag made of material having an assembled strength which is not exceeded when expansion of the outer bag occurs in response to a pressure differential of about 13.8 pounds per square inch from inside to outside the outer bag, the outer bag having a predetermined shape in an unexpanded condition and having a cavity defined therein, the cavity having a length and a width related to an area in which to receive an item to be shipped; and
a flat flexible sealable inner bag made of material having a leakproof limit and an elastic limit sufficient for the inner bag to remain intact during unconstrained expansion of the inner bag caused by a pressure differential below about three pounds per square inch from inside to outside the inner bag, the inner bag having a predetermined shape in an unexpanded condition matching the predetermined shape of the outer bag but having a length in the unexpanded condition greater than the length of the area in which to receive an item to be shipped, and the inner bag also having a width in the unexpanded condition greater than the width of the area in which to receive an item to be shipped, wherein the inner bag receives an item to be shipped and further wherein the outer bag receives into the cavity the inner bag and the item received therein to form the pressure resistant shipping container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-component container has a non-rigid, durable, flexible design constructed with a tough outer bag having specifically located fastenings. The outer bag when assembled with the fastenings constrains an inner bladder that is a durable, flexible, sealable leakproof bag having dimensions selected relative to the outer bag. The combination of the inner and outer components enable the container to meet or exceed national and international testing criteria applicable to the transport of many hazardous items in accordance with applicable regulations. A related method of transporting is also disclosed.
84 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A pressure resistant shipping container, comprising:
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a flat flexible outer bag made of material having an assembled strength which is not exceeded when expansion of the outer bag occurs in response to a pressure differential of about 13.8 pounds per square inch from inside to outside the outer bag, the outer bag having a predetermined shape in an unexpanded condition and having a cavity defined therein, the cavity having a length and a width related to an area in which to receive an item to be shipped; and a flat flexible sealable inner bag made of material having a leakproof limit and an elastic limit sufficient for the inner bag to remain intact during unconstrained expansion of the inner bag caused by a pressure differential below about three pounds per square inch from inside to outside the inner bag, the inner bag having a predetermined shape in an unexpanded condition matching the predetermined shape of the outer bag but having a length in the unexpanded condition greater than the length of the area in which to receive an item to be shipped, and the inner bag also having a width in the unexpanded condition greater than the width of the area in which to receive an item to be shipped, wherein the inner bag receives an item to be shipped and further wherein the outer bag receives into the cavity the inner bag and the item received therein to form the pressure resistant shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 41, 42)
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11. A shipping container, comprising:
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a flat pouch defining a cavity accessible through a mouth defined in the pouch, the pouch being made of a flexible material which permits the pouch to change shape in response to the shape of an item received in the cavity of the pouch; a fold retainer apparatus connected to the pouch such that the fold retainer apparatus retains the pouch in a folded condition at a fold line spaced from the mouth of the cavity when the portion of the pouch having the mouth is folded back over an adjacent portion of the pouch; a fold and mouth retainer apparatus connected to the pouch such that the fold and mouth retainer apparatus extends across the mouth from a main body portion of the pouch to the folded back portion of the pouch and retains the pouch in the folded condition and the mouth in a closed position; and an inner bag adapted to receive the item and to be received in the cavity of the pouch below the fold line and removable therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 43)
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27. A method of transporting one or more hazardous items, the method comprising:
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inserting the one or more hazardous items into an inner bag; sealing the inner bag closed; inserting the sealed inner bag through a mouth at one end of an outer bag into a cavity of the outer bag, including moving the inner bag below a fold line at the one end of the outer bag; folding the one end of the outer bag along the fold line such that the mouth is moved adjacent a portion of an outer surface of the outer bag and retaining the outer bag in this folded condition; engaging fasteners connected to the outer bag and extending over the mouth in the folded condition; and shipping the retained, fastened outer bag containing the inner bag and the one or more hazardous items by a public or private carrier. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40)
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38. A pressure resistant shipping container, comprising:
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a flat flexible pouch having a predetermined shape in an unexpanded condition, the pouch including first and second sides defining a cavity therebetween and a mouth into the cavity at one end of the pouch; a fold retainer apparatus connected to the pouch such that the fold retainer apparatus retains the pouch in a folded condition in response to folding part of both sides of the pouch along a fold line spaced from the mouth of the cavity to define a fold portion of the pouch having the mouth and to define a remaining main body portion of the pouch, the fold line extending across the pouch and the fold portion including facing areas of both sides of the pouch between the fold line and the mouth so that these areas of both sides are folded over together along the fold line; a fold and mouth retainer apparatus connected to the pouch such that the fold and mouth retainer apparatus extends across the mouth between the main body portion of the pouch and the fold portion of the pouch and retains the pouch in the folded condition and the mouth in a closed position, wherein the fold and mouth retainer apparatus includes at least one positively retained buckle that overlies the mouth and limits expansion of at least the fold portion of the pouch; and a flat flexible inner bag having a predetermined shape in an unexpanded condition with a length in the unexpanded condition greater than the length of the main body portion of the pouch and the inner bag also having a width in the unexpanded condition greater than the width of the main body portion of the pouch such that the inner bag does not lie flat in either its length direction or its width direction inside the cavity of the main body portion of the pouch, wherein the inner bag receives an item to be shipped and further wherein the outer bag receives into the cavity of the main body portion of the pouch the inner bag and the item received therein. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification